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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ancientnoob, post: 1918682, member: 44140&quot;]Extinct plants- Now that is something you need for an ancient coin collection. I have searched for an extinct plant coin for nearly 3 years. I have nearly pulled the trigger on lesser examples available online in the usual places. I have even considered paying big money for one, well good thing..I didn&#039;t. I found this one in a privet collection of a collector I used to do business with online, who no longer sells online. he knew I was looking for one of these coins and being a seasoned collector of good taste he had one. Being a nice guy he gave this to me for wonderful deal. </p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was minted in Kyrene, Kyrencia North Africa around 300 BC. With wonderful old cabinet toning the coin appeals to me on several levels. The horned head of Karneios, a ram horned incarnation of Apollo, that captivates the harvest, fruits of the vine, agriculture as well as the metaphysical incarnation of harvest which includes death and the ultimate freedom of the soul. Then there is the reverse, the coveted and now Silphium plant, ironically cultivated to extinction by the ancients. The plant appears frequently on coins of of Kyrene and is said to have had fruits that were used both as an aphrodisiac and contraceptive, the last specimen was said to have been eaten by the Roman emperor Nero in around 68 AD. </p><p><br /></p><p>Africa</p><p>Kyrencia, Kyrene</p><p>AR Didrachm (Stater)</p><p>s. 308-277 BC </p><p>19.4 mm x 7.62 grams</p><p>Obverse: Karneios, horned head right.</p><p>Reverse: Silphium plant, KY-PA in fields.</p><p>Ref: SGCV 6319, BMC 52</p><p>Note: Rare, Nicely centered, VF</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]329404[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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